Judges to Compete for New Orleans Court Seat

Kimya Holmes and Simone Levine will face off on November 3, 2026, for the Section D judgeship.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Judges to Compete for New Orleans Court Seat

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Two judges are vying for a position in the New Orleans Criminal District Court ahead of the upcoming election on November 3, 2026. The race is set against the backdrop of a legislative mandate to reduce the court from 12 judges to 9.

Why it matters

The Louisiana Legislature passed a law mandating the consolidation of judicial seats, which will eliminate three positions effective January 1, 2027. This restructuring has forced sitting judges into competitive races as they seek to retain their roles in the smaller body.

Kimya Holmes raised approximately $117,000, including $75,000 in self-loans, while Simone Levine raised $152,000 with $30,000 in self-loans. The Louisiana Judicial Oversight Committee recently ordered Levine to remove campaign materials referencing Section D.

The players

Kimya Holmes

She is the current occupant of the Section D seat at the New Orleans Criminal District Court.

Simone Levine

She currently serves as a judge for Section A and is running for the Section D seat.

Louisiana Legislature

This state governing body passed the law requiring the reduction of judgeships on the court.

Louisiana Judicial Oversight Committee

This regulatory organization monitors judicial campaign practices and ordered the modification of campaign materials.

The details

Kimya Holmes, the current occupant of the Section D seat, is competing against Simone Levine, who currently holds a seat for Section A. Following a dispute over campaign labeling, Levine agreed to modify her election materials on October 7, 2026.

Kimya Holmes was a victim of a violent crime in 1997.
Simone Levine won a runoff election for Section A in April 2023.
Simone Levine agreed to modify her campaign materials on October 7, 2026.
The judicial election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
The reduction of the court from 12 to 9 seats takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Legal Context

This election occurs as New Orleans undergoes a structural overhaul of its judiciary system mandated by state law. The consolidation mirrors broader legislative trends in Louisiana aimed at reducing the size and operational costs of the local court system.

Residents in New Orleans should be aware that the composition of the Criminal District Court will shift significantly due to the reduction of three judgeships. This change may impact how cases are processed and the overall accessibility of the court system for the public.

The takeaway

Voters should review the records of both candidates to understand how their judicial philosophies align with the needs of a smaller court. Understanding the impact of the legislative consolidation will be essential for assessing the future direction of the local criminal justice system.

What happens next

The judicial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026. Following this, the court seat reduction is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.